Mixed results for Mayo

LAS VEGAS -- Pressure? O.J. Mayo has dealt with it since the seventh grade, when he competed for a spot on the varsity squad at Rose Hill Christian School in Ashland, Ky., and wound up averaging 23.2 points.

So what’s the big deal about proving he made the right move in coming out of USC after one season, proving he was worthy of being the third pick in the draft, worthy of being part of an eight-player trade on draft night that sent him from the Minnesota Timberwolves to the Memphis Grizzlies, costing the Grizzlies Kevin Love and Mike Miller?

“The lottery’s over. The draft’s over,� Mayo said Wednesday night after finishing a five-game stint in the NBA Summer League at the Thomas & Mack Center/Cox Pavilion complex. “I just want to get better.�

Still, if pushed to prove himself, Mayo will push back. Playing against the New Orleans Hornets in the Grizzlies’ Summer League opener, Mayo, on a dribble drive, was blistered by a heckler in the audience yelling “Over-r-a-a-ted!�

Accelerating, the, 6-foot-5, 200-pound Mayo soared over 6-11 Hilton Armstrong and dunked.

Just in case that wasn’t “SportsCenter�-worthy, Mayo provided another highlight moment against the San Antonio Spurs. He fired up a 69-foot shot at the first-quarter buzzer that made it through the hoop.

It hasn’t all been highlight moments for Mayo. He averaged 18.8 points and 3.6 rebounds in the Summer League, making 40.7% of his shots, including 48% from three-point range. He had 13 assists and seven steals but also had 24 turnovers.

“That’s an issue,� said Mayo’s coach, Marc Iavaroni, “one he’s going to have to look square in the face.�

Mayo doesn’t deny that.

“You can’t be afraid to make mistakes,� he said. “You can’t be afraid to fail. That’s how you have success.�

The Grizzlies hope Mayo will have success at both point guard and shooting guard.

“Right now, he’s a creative scorer,� Iavaroni said. “To be more versatile, he’s going to have to work at it.�

Mayo’s next challenge comes next week. He was chosen Wednesday to the select team that will practice with the U.S. Olympic squad.

While Iavaroni is pleased with the progress of his rookie, he stresses the need for Mayo to move at his own pace.

“You have to meet your own expectations,� Iavaroni said, “not somebody else’s.�

Mayo, who has been embroiled in a controversy over allegations that he took money and gifts from an agent while in high school and college, has been a model citizen off the court in his time with Memphis. Asked after one summer league game to sign autographs for fans, a task he was told would take only 10 to 15 minutes, Mayo stood there for 35 minutes, satisfying every request.

“He’s very personable,� said Memphis General Manager Chris Wallace. “He doesn’t big-time anybody.�

When a reporter asked Mayo on Thursday night if he was confident the charges would be dropped, Mayo raised an eyebrow, smiled and said, “Charges? There are no charges. There are only allegations. Are you trying to get me in trouble with the law? I am confident the allegations will be dropped.�

As the reporter departed, Mayo had a parting shot.

“Remember,� he said, “allegations.�

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